System and method for reducing power consumption in a data processor having a clustered architecture

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed a data processor having a clustered architecture that comprises a plurality of clusters, an instruction cache and a power-down controller. Each of the clusters comprises an instruction execution pipeline having N processing stages. Each of the N processing stages is capable of performing at least one of a plurality of execution steps associated with instructions being executed by the clusters. The power-down controller monitors the instruction cache and each instruction execution pipeline to identify power-down conditions associated with the same and, in response to an identified power-down condition, at least one of: (i) bypasses performance of at least a portion of subsequent ones of the N processing stages associated with an executing instruction, (ii) powers down the instruction cache, and (iii) powers down the data processor.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention is generally directed to data processors and, more specifically, to systems and methods for reducing power consumption in a data processor having a clustered architecture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The demand for high performance computers requires that state-of-the-art microprocessors execute instructions in the minimum amount of time. A number of different approaches have been taken to decrease instruction execution time, thereby increasing processor throughput. One way to increase processor throughput is to use a pipeline architecture in which the processor is divided into separate processing stages that form the pipeline. Instructions are broken down into elemental steps that are executed in different stages in an assembly line fashion.

[0003] A pipelined processor is capable of executing several different machine instructions concurrently. This is accomplished by breaking down the processing steps for each instruction into several discrete processing phases, each of which is executed by a separate pipeline stage. Hence, each instruction must pass sequentially through each pipeline stage in order to complete its execution. In general, a given instruction is processed by only one pipeline stage at a time, with one clock cycle being required for each stage. Since instructions use the pipeline stages in the same order and typically only stay in each stage for a single clock cycle, an N stage pipeline is capable of simultaneously processing N instructions. When filled with instructions, a processor with N pipeline stages completes one instruction each clock cycle.

[0004] The execution rate of an N-stage pipeline processor is theoretically N times faster than an equivalent non-pipelined processor. A non-pipelined processor is a processor that completes execution of one instruction before proceeding to the next instruction. Typically, pipeline overheads and other factors decrease somewhat the execution advantage rate that a pipelined processor has over a non-pipelined processor.

[0005] An exemplary seven stage processor pipeline may consist of an address generation stage, an instruction fetch stage, a decode stage, a read stage, a pair of execution (E1 and E2) stages, and a write (or write-back) stage. In addition, the processor may have an instruction cache that stores program instructions for execution, a data cache that temporarily stores data operands that otherwise are stored in processor memory, and a register file that also temporarily stores data operands.

[0006] The address generation stage generates the address of the next instruction to be fetched from the instruction cache. The instruction fetch stage fetches an instruction for execution from the instruction cache and stores the fetched instruction in an instruction buffer. The decode stage takes the instruction from the instruction buffer and decodes the instruction into a set of signals that can be directly used for executing subsequent pipeline stages. The read stage fetches required operands from the data cache or registers in the register file. The E1 and E2 stages perform the actual program operation (e.g., add, multiply, divide, and the like) on the operands fetched by the read stage and generates the result. The write stage then writes the result generated by the E1 and E2 stages back into the data cache or the register file.

[0007] Assuming that each pipeline stage completes its operation in one clock cycle, the exemplary seven stage processor pipeline takes seven clock cycles to process one instruction. As previously described, once the pipeline is full, an instruction can theoretically be completed every clock cycle.

[0008] The throughput of a processor also is affected by the size of the instruction set executed by the processor and the resulting complexity of the instruction decoder. Large instruction sets require large, complex decoders in order to maintain a high processor throughput. However, large complex decoders tend to increase power dissipation, die size and the cost of the processor. The throughput of a processor also may be affected by other factors, such as exception handling, data and instruction cache sizes, multiple parallel instruction pipelines, and the like. All of these factors increase or at least maintain processor throughput by means of complex and/or redundant circuitry that simultaneously increases power dissipation, die size and cost.

[0009] In many processor applications, the increased cost, increased power dissipation, and increased die size are tolerable, such as in personal computers and network servers that use x86-based processors. These types of processors include, for example, Intel Pentium™ processors and AMD Athlon™ processors. However, in many applications it is essential to minimize the size, cost, and power requirements of a data processor. This has led to the development of processors that are optimized to meet particular size, cost and/or power limits. For example, the recently developed Transmeta Crusoe™ processor reduces the amount of power consumed by the processor when executing most x86 based programs. This is particularly useful in laptop computer applications. Other types of data processors may be optimized for use in consumer appliances (e.g., televisions, video players, radios, digital music players, and the like) and office equipment (e.g., printers, copiers, fax machines, telephone systems, and other peripheral devices).

[0010] In general, an important design objective for data processors used in consumer appliances and office equipment is the minimization of cost and complexity of the data processor. One way to minimize cost and complexity is to exclude from the processor core functions that can be implemented with memory-mapped peripherals external to the core. For example, cache flushing may be performed using a small memory-mapped device controlled by a specialized software function. The cost and complexity of a data processor may also minimized by implementing extremely simple exception behavior in the processor core.

[0011] A wide-issue processor pipeline, in contrast, executes bundles of operations in multiple stages. In a wide-issue processor, multiple concurrent operations are bundled into a single instruction and are issued and executed as a unit. In a clustered architecture, the machine resources are divided into clusters where each cluster consists of one or more register files each of which is associated with a subset of the execution units of the data processor.

[0012] A problem exists in that, to process these bundled instructions, the wide-issue processor pipeline consumes a large amount of power. For instance, a wide-issue processor will commonly execute “bundles” of operations in multiple stages, wherein each stage in the pipeline is as wide as the executed word. Because it is generally not possible to completely populate a wide instruction with useful work (i.e., instructions), it is necessary to insert “dummy” instructions (i.e., non-operations) to fill all available slots. The problem arises in that these inserted “dummy” instructions consume power at each stage. Additionally, in normal operation, wide-issue processors require insertion of explicit non-operations to schedule correctly program execution (i.e., a feature of wide-issue processors over traditional sequential processors), these non-operations also consume power at each execution stage. As another example, power consumption problems can occur when repeated processor execution of small code sequences occurs as tight loops while unnecessary time is spent and power is expended in the cache.

[0013] Many data processors are not designed with a low/no power consumption mode, let alone functional units of the same, and, therefore, power consumption cannot be sufficiently reduced. Excessive power consumption by wide-issue data processors remains a continuing problem.

[0014] Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved data processors in which the cost and complexity of the processor core is minimized while maintaining the processor throughput. In particular, there is a need for improved systems and methods for reducing power consumption in a wide-issue data processor. More particularly, there is a need for systems and methods capable of addressing wasted power and time associated with unnecessary cache accesses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] To address the above-discussed deficiencies of the prior art, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a data processor having a clustered architecture that comprises a plurality of clusters, an instruction cache and a power-down controller that operates to selectively reduce power consumption in the data processor. Primary objects of the principles hereof are to recognize power down conditions early in an instruction execution pipeline of a cluster, and, responsive thereto, to execute power reduction measures and, whenever possible, carry the same along within the pipeline. The principles hereof are well suited for implementation in data processors having multiple functional units that allow multiple operations to be explicitly executed in a single cycle—such processors are commonly referred to as wide-issue (or “VLIW”) processors.

[0016] According to one advantageous embodiment, each cluster comprises an instruction execution pipeline having N processing stages. Each of the N processing stages is capable of performing at least one of a plurality of execution steps associated with instructions being executed by the clusters. The power-down controller monitors the instruction cache and each instruction execution pipeline to identify power-down conditions associated with the same and, in response to an identified power-down condition, at least one of: (i) bypasses performance of at least a portion of subsequent ones of the N processing stages associated with an executing instruction, (ii) powers down the instruction cache, and (iii) powers down the data processor.

[0017] An important aspect of the foregoing embodiment is that the principles of the present invention may suitably be focused upon the functionality of the instruction cache and each instruction execution pipeline. According to a related embodiment, three recognition techniques may be used while the power-down controller monitors the instruction cache and each instruction execution pipeline to reduce power consumption.

[0018] For instance, the data processor set forth above may further comprise an instruction fetch buffer, and an identified power-down condition may suitably indicate detection of at least one of (i) a non-operation in one of the clusters, (ii) a tight-loop condition in the instruction fetch buffer, or (iii) an idle-loop condition. By way of further example, the power-down controller, while performing its monitoring function, may operate to detect a non-operation associated with an instruction executing in an instruction execution pipeline of one of the clusters. The power-down controller, in response to detecting this non-operation, may bypasses performance of at least a portion of any subsequent processing stages, thereby reducing power consumption in the subsequent processing stages as the executing instruction passes through the instruction execution pipeline. Significant power reductions can be made in the execution of programs, whilst maintaining code compatibility.

[0019] According to another embodiment of the present invention, the data processor further comprising an instruction-fetch buffer. The power-down controller thereof operates to power down (i) the instruction cache in response to identifying a tight-loop condition in the instruction fetch buffer, or (ii) the data processor in response to identifying an idle-loop condition.

[0020] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention so that those skilled in the art may better understand the detailed description of the invention that follows. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. Those skilled in the art should appreciate that they may readily use the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. Those skilled in the art should also realize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form.

[0021] Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” and “circuitry” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device, system or part thereof may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller or circuitry may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] For a more complete understanding of the present invention, and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers designate like objects, and in which:

[0023]FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a processing system that contains a data processor in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

[0024]FIG. 2 illustrates the exemplary data processor in greater detail according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0025]FIG. 3 illustrates a cluster in the exemplary data processor according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0026]FIG. 4 illustrates the operational stages of the exemplary data processor according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0027]FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of an exemplary method of operating a data processor according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028]FIGS. 1 through 5, discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present invention may be implemented in any suitably arranged data processor supporting a clustered architecture.

[0029]FIG. 1 is a block diagram of processing system 10, which contains data processor 100 in accordance with the principles of the present invention. Data processor 100 comprises processor core 105 and N memory-mapped peripherals interconnected by system bus 120. The N memory-mapped peripherals include exemplary memory-mapped peripherals 111-114, which are arbitrarily labeled Memory-Mapped Peripheral 1, Memory-Mapped Peripheral 2, Memory-Mapped Peripheral 3, and Memory-Mapped Peripheral N. Processing system 10 also comprises main memory 130. In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, main memory 130 may be subdivided into program memory 140 and data memory 150.

[0030] The cost and complexity of data processor 100 is minimized by excluding from processor core 105 complex functions that may be implemented by one or more of memory-mapped peripherals 111-114. For example, memory-mapped peripheral 111 may be a video codec and memory-mapped peripheral 112 may be an audio codec. Similarly, memory-mapped peripheral 113 may be used to control cache flushing. The cost and complexity of data processor 100 is further minimized by implementing extremely simple exception behavior in processor core 105, as explained below in greater detail.

[0031] Processing system 10 is shown in a general level of detail An because it is intended to represent any one of a wide variety of electronic devices, particularly consumer appliances. For example, processing system 10 may be a printer rendering system for use in a conventional laser printer. Processing system 10 also may represent selected portions of the video and audio compression-decompression circuitry of a video playback system, such as a video cassette recorder or a digital versatile disk (DVD) player. In another alternative embodiment, processing system 10 may comprise selected portions of a cable television set-top box or a stereo receiver. The memory-mapped peripherals and a simplified processor core reduce the cost of data processor 100 so that it may be used in such price sensitive consumer appliances.

[0032] In the illustrated embodiment, memory-mapped peripherals 111-114 are shown disposed within data processor 100 and program memory 140 and data memory 150 are shown external to data processor 100. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this particular configuration is shown by way of illustration only and should not be construed so as to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, one or more of memory-mapped peripherals 111-114 may be externally coupled to data processor 100. Similarly, in another embodiment of the present invention, one or both of program memory 140 and data memory 150 may be disposed on-chip in data processor 100.

[0033]FIG. 2 is a more detailed block diagram of exemplary data processor 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Data processor 100 comprises instruction fetch cache and expansion unit (IFCEXU) 210, which contains instruction cache 215, and a plurality of clusters, including exemplary clusters 220-222. Exemplary clusters 220-222 are labeled Cluster 0, Cluster 1 and Cluster 2, respectively. Data processor 100 also comprises core memory controller 230, interrupt and exception controller 240 and power-down controller 250.

[0034] A fundamental object of the design of data processor 100 is to exclude from the core of data processor 100 most of the functions that can be implemented using memory-mapped peripherals external to the core of data processor 100. By way of example, in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, cache flushing may be efficiently accomplished using software in conjunction with a small memory-mapped device. Another object of the design of data processor 100 is to implement a statically scheduled instruction pipeline with an extremely simple exception behavior.

[0035] Because conventional processor cores can execute multiple simultaneously issued operations, the traditional word “instruction” is hereby defined with greater specificity. For the purposes of this disclosure, the following terminology is adopted.

[0036] An “instruction” or “instruction bundle” is a group of simultaneously issued operations encoded as “instruction syllables”. Each instruction syllable is encoded as a single machine word. Each of the operations constituting an instruction bundle may be encoded as one or more instruction syllables. Hereafter, the present disclosure may use the shortened forms “instruction” and “bundle” interchangeably and may use the shortened form “syllable.” In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, each instruction bundle consists of 1 to 4 instruction syllables. Flow control operations, such as branch or call, are encoded in single instruction syllables.

[0037] Exemplary power-down controller 250 monitors the instruction cache 220 and the instruction execution pipeline of clusters 220-222 to identify power-down conditions associated with the same and, in response to an identified power-down condition, at least one of: (i) bypasses performance of at least a portion of subsequent processing stages associated with an executing instruction, (ii) powers down the instruction cache 220, or (iii) powers down the data processor 100. According to this embodiment, data processor 100 further comprises an instruction fetch buffer (introduced hereafter), and power-down controller 250 operates to detect presence of at least one of (i) a non-operation in one of clusters 220-222, (ii) a tight-loop condition in the instruction fetch buffer, or (iii) an idle-loop condition.

[0038] In the illustrated embodiment, power-down controller 250 is shown disposed within data processor 100. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this particular configuration is shown by way of illustration only and should not be construed so as to limit the scope of the present invention in any way. In alternative embodiments of the present invention, all or a portion of power-down controller 250 may be externally associated with data processor 100.

[0039]FIG. 3 is a more detailed block diagram of branching cluster 220 in data processor 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. Branching cluster 220 comprises instruction buffer 305, register file 310, program counter and branch unit 315, instruction decoder 320, load store unit 325, data cache 330, integer units 341-344, and multipliers 351-352. Cluster 220 is implemented as an instruction pipeline.

[0040] Instructions are issued to an operand read stage associated with register file 310 and then propagated to the execution units (i.e., integer units 341-244, multipliers 351-352). Exemplary cluster 220 accepts one bundle comprising one to four syllables in each cycle. The bundle may consist of any combination of four integer operations, two multiplication operations, one memory operation (i.e., read or write) and one branch operation. Operations that require long immediates (constants) require two syllables.

[0041] In specifying a cluster, it is assumed that no instruction bits are used to associate operations with functional units. For example, arithmetic or load/store operations may be placed in any of the four words encoding the operations for a single cycle. This may require imposing some addressing alignment restrictions on multiply operations and long immediates (constants).

[0042] This following describes the architectural (programmer visible) status of the core of data processor 100. One design objective of data processor 100 is to minimize the architectural status. All non-user visible status information resides in a memory map, in order to reduce the number of special instructions required to access such information. While each of the clusters 220-222 is capable of computing branch conditions, only branching cluster 220 is operable to perform branch address computations.

[0043] Program Counter

[0044] In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the program counter (PC) in program counter and branch unit 315 is a 32-bit byte address pointing to the beginning of the current instruction bundle in memory. The two least significant bits (LSBs) of the program counter are always zero. In operations that assign a value to the program counter, the two LSBs of the assigned value are ignored.

[0045] Register File 310

[0046] In an exemplary embodiment, register file 310 contains 64 words of 32 bits each. Reading Register 0 (i.e., R0) always returns the value zero.

[0047] Link Register

[0048] Register 63 (i.e., R63) is used to address the link register by the call and return instructions. The link register (LR) is a slaved copy of the architecturally most recent update to R63. R63 can be used as a normal register, between call and return instructions. The link register is updated only by writes to R63 and the call instruction. At times the fact that the link register is a copy of R63 and not R63 itself may be visible to the programmer. This is because the link register and R63 get updated at different times in the pipeline. Typically, this occurs in the following cases:

[0049] 1) ICALL and IGOTO instructions—Since these instructions are executed in the decode stage, these operations require that R63 be stable. Thus, R63 must not be modified in the instruction bundle preceding one of these operations. Otherwise unpredictable results may occur in the event of an interrupt; and

[0050] 2) An interrupt or exception may update the link register incorrectly. Thus, all interrupt and exception handlers must explicitly write R63 prior to using the link register through the execution of an RFI, ICALL or IGOTO instruction. This requirement can be met with a simple MOV instruction from R63 to R63.

[0051] Branch Bit File

[0052] The branch architecture of data processor 100 uses a set of eight (8) branch bit registers (i.e., B0 through B7) that may be read or written independently. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, data processor 100 requires at least one instruction to be executed between writing a branch bit and using the result in a conditional branch operation.

[0053] Control Registers

[0054] A small number of memory mapped control registers are part of the architectural state of data processor 100. These registers include support for interrupts and exceptions, and memory protection.

[0055] The core of data processor 100 is implemented as a pipeline that requires minimal instruction decoding in the early pipeline stages. One design objective of the pipeline of data processor 100 is that it support precise interrupts and exceptions. Data processor 100 meets this objective by updating architecturally visible state information only during a single write stage. To accomplish this, data processor 100 makes extensive use of register bypassing circuitry to minimize the performance impact of meeting this requirement.

[0056]FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating the operational stages (instruction execution pipeline, generally designated 400) of pipeline 400 in exemplary data processor 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the operational stages of data processor 100 are address generation stage 401, fetch stage 402, decode stage 403, read stage 404, first execution (E1) stage 405, second execution (E2) stage 406 and write stage 407.

[0057] Address Generation Stage 401 and Fetch Stage 402

[0058] Address generation stage 401 comprises a fetch address generator 410 that generates the address of the next instruction to be fetched from instruction cache 215. Fetch address generator 410 receives inputs from exception generator 430 and program counter and branch unit 315. Fetch address generator 410 generates an instruction fetch address (FADDR) that is applied to instruction cache 215 in fetch stage 402 and to an instruction protection unit (not shown) that generates an exception if a protection violation is found. Any exception generated in fetch stage 402 is postponed to write stage 407. Instruction buffer 305 in fetch stage 402 receives instructions as 128-bit wide words from instruction cache 215 and the instructions are dispatched to the cluster.

[0059] Decode Stage 403

[0060] During decode stage 403 comprises instruction decode block 416 and program counter (PC) and branch unit 315. Instruction decode block 416 receives instructions from instruction buffer 305 and decodes the instructions into a group of control signals that are applied to the execution units in E1 stage 405 and E2 stage 406. According to the illustrated embodiment, power-down controller 250 monitors instruction cache 215 and instruction execution pipeline 400 to identify power-down conditions associated with the same. Three identifiable power-down conditions are (i) a non-operation in instruction execution pipeline 400, (ii) a tight-loop condition in instruction fetch buffer 305, or (iii) an idle-loop condition.

[0061] Power-down controller 250 detects a non-operation in instruction execution pipeline 400 in two ways. First, with respect to real non-operations (i.e., non-inserted NOPs), power-down controller 250 identifies the same while decoding is undertaken. Second, with respect to inserted non-operations, power-down controller 250 identifies the same a dispersion (i.e., at the time of insertion). This may advantageously be implemented in hardware.

[0062] Power-down controller 250 detects a tight-loop condition in instruction fetch buffer 305 at instruction decode when tight loops can be defined as those fitting within instruction fetch buffer 305 —those that fit within instruction fetch buffer 305 are recognized by the jump displacement and buffer sizing. This may advantageously be implemented in hardware.

[0063] Power-down controller 250 detects an idle-loop condition by determining whether the instructions in the tight loop in instruction fetch buffer 305 are non-operations (i.e., if all non-operations, then the tight loop may accurately be considered an idle loop). This may advantageously be implemented in hardware.

[0064] Read Stage 404

[0065] In read stage 404, operands are generated by register file access, bypass and immediate (constant) generation block 420. The sources for operands are the register files, the constants (immediates) assembled from the instruction bundle, and any results bypassed from operations in later stages in the instruction pipeline.

[0066] An important aspect of the present embodiment is power-down controller 250 automatic powers down key circuitry in response to recognition of one or more power-down conditions as above-described.

[0067] E1 Stage 405 and E2 Stage 406

[0068] The instruction execution phase of data processor 100 is implemented as two stages, E1 stage 405 and E2 stage 406 to allow two cycle cache access operations and two cycle multiplication operations. Exemplary multiplier 351 is illustrated straddling the boundary between E1 stage 405 and E2 stage 406 to indicate a two cycle multiplication operation. Similarly, load store unit 325 and data cache 330 are illustrated straddling the boundary between E1 stage 405 and E2 stage 406 to indicate a two cycle cache access operation. Integer operations are performed by integer units, such as IU 341 in E1 stage 405. Exceptions are generated by exception generator 430 in E2 stage 406.

[0069] Results from fast operations are made available after E1 stage 405 through register bypassing operations. An important architectural requirement of data processor 100 is that if the results of an operation may be ready after E1 stage 405, then the results are always ready after E1 stage 405. In this manner, the visible latency of operations in data processor 100 is fixed.

[0070] An important aspect of the present embodiment is power-down controller 250 automatic powers down key circuitry in response to recognition of one or more power-down conditions as above-described.

[0071] Write Stage 407

[0072] At the start of write stage 407, any pending exceptions are raised and, if no exceptions are raised, results are written by register write back and bypass block 440 into the appropriate register file and/or data cache location. In data processor 100, write stage 407 is the “commit point” and operations reaching write stage 407 in the instruction pipeline and not “excepted” are considered completed. Previous stages (i.e., address generation, fetch, decode, read, E1, E2 ) are temporally prior to the commit point. Therefore, operations in address generation stage 401, fetch stage 402, decode stage 403, read stage 404, E1 stage 405 and E2 stage 406 are flushed when an exception occurs and are acted upon in write stage 407.

[0073] Load operations that transfer data from data cache 330 to the register files are performed in E1 stage 404, E2 stage 405, and write stage 407. Data shifting is performed early in write stage 407 prior to loading the data into the appropriate register file in register write back and bypass block 440. In order to maximize processor throughput, the present invention implements bypassing circuitry in the pipeline that permits data from load word operations to bypass the shifting circuitry in write stage 407.

[0074] An important aspect of the present embodiment is power-down controller 250 automatic powers down key circuitry in response to recognition of one or more power-down conditions as above-described.

[0075]FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram (generally designated 500) of an exemplary method of operating data processor 100 to power down selected portions of data processor 100 according to one embodiment of the present invention. For purposes of illustration, concurrent reference is made to the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 4.

[0076] To begin, data processor 100 executes instructions in clusters 220-222 (process step 505) , wherein each cluster 220-222 comprises an instruction execution pipeline having seven processing stages, namely, address generation stage 401, fetch stage 402, decode stage 403, read stage 404, first execution (E1) stage 405, second execution (E2) stage 406 and write stage 407. Each of the seven processing stages 401-407 is capable of performing at least one of a plurality of execution steps associated with instructions being executed by clusters 220-222.

[0077] Power-down controller 250 monitors instruction cache 215 and each instruction execution pipeline 400, including instruction buffer 305 (process step 510). According to the present embodiment, during decode stage 403, instruction buffer 305 receives instructions from instruction cache 215 and the instructions are dispatched to a cluster 220-222.

[0078] Power-down controller 250 operates to identify power-down conditions associated with instruction cache 215 and each instruction execution pipeline 400, namely (i) a non-operation in instruction execution pipeline 400, (ii) a tight-loop condition in instruction fetch buffer 305, or (iii) an idle-loop condition.

[0079] Power-down controller 250 monitors each instruction for the presence of non-operations (decision step 515). Exemplary powerdown controller 250 detects a non-operation in instruction execution pipeline 400 in two ways. First, with respect to real non-operations (i.e., non-inserted NOPs), power-down controller 250 identifies the same while decoding is undertaken. Second, with respect to inserted non-operations, power-down controller 250 identifies the same at dispersion (i.e., at the time of insertion) This may advantageously be implemented in hardware. In the event that a non-operation is detected (“Y” Branch of Decision Step 515), then power-down controller 250 bypasses performance of at least a portion of subsequent processing stages associated with the executing instruction having the non-operation (process step 520), thereby reducing power consumption in the subsequent processing stages as the executing instruction passes through the instruction execution pipeline (i.e., stages 404-407).

[0080] Power-down controller 250 monitors instruction fetch buffer 305 for the presence of tight loops (decision step 525). Exemplary power-down controller 250 detects a tight-loop condition in instruction execution pipeline 400 by monitoring instruction fetch buffer 305 at instruction decode when tight loops are defined, namely loops fitting within instruction fetch buffer 305 (i.e., recognized by the jump displacement and buffer sizing). This may advantageously be implemented in hardware. In the event that a tight-loop condition is detected (“Y” Branch of Decision Step 525), then power-down controller 250 operates to power down instruction cache 210 (process step 530; e.g., responsive to identifying a tight-loop condition in instruction fetch buffer 305) pending termination of the tight loop.

[0081] Power-down controller 250 monitors each tight loop for the presence of idle loops (decision step 535). Exemplary power-down controller 250 detects an idle-loop condition in instruction execution pipeline 400, illustratively by monitoring instruction fetch buffer 305 to determine whether the instructions in the tight loop in instruction fetch buffer 305 are non-operations (i.e., if all non-operations, then the tight loop may accurately be considered an idle loop). This may advantageously be implemented in hardware. In the event that an idle-loop condition is detected (“Y” Branch of Decision Step 535), then power-down controller 250 operates to power down data processor 100 (process step 540), thereby stalling data processor 100 pending an interrupt.

[0082] Although the present invention has been described in detail, those skilled in the art should understand that they can make various changes, substitutions and alterations herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention in its broadest form. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A data processor having a clustered architecture that comprises an instruction cache and a plurality of clusters, each of said clusters comprising an instruction execution pipeline, each said instruction execution pipeline comprising N processing stages, each of said N processing stages capable of performing at least one of a plurality of execution steps associated with instructions being executed by said clusters, said data processor comprising: a power-down controller that monitors each said instruction execution pipeline and said instruction cache to identify power-down conditions associated therewith, and that, in response to an identified power-down condition, at least one of: (i) bypasses performance of at least a portion of subsequent ones of said N processing stages associated with an executing instruction; (ii) powers down said instruction cache; and (iii) powers down said data processor.
 2. The data processor as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an instruction fetch buffer, and wherein an identified power-down condition indicates detection of at least one of (i) a non-operation in one of said clusters, (ii) a tight-loop condition in said instruction fetch buffer, and (iii) an idle-loop condition.
 3. The data processor as set forth in claim 1 wherein said power-down controller, while monitoring each said instruction execution pipeline and said instruction cache, detects a non-operation associated with an instruction executing in an instruction execution pipeline of one of said clusters.
 4. The data processor as set forth in claim 3 wherein said power-down controller, in response to detecting said non-operation, bypasses performance of said at least said portion of said subsequent ones of said N processing stages, to thereby reduce power consumption in said subsequent ones of said N processing stages as said executing instruction passes through said instruction execution pipeline.
 5. The data processor as set forth in claim 1 further comprising an instruction-fetch buffer.
 6. The data processor as set forth in claim 5 wherein said power-down controller powers down said instruction cache in response to identifying a tight-loop condition in said instruction fetch buffer.
 7. The data processor as set forth in claim 5 wherein said power-down controller powers down said data processor in response to identifying an idle-loop condition.
 8. For use in a data processor having a clustered architecture, said data processor comprising an instruction cache and a plurality of clusters, each of said clusters comprising an instruction execution pipeline, each said instruction execution pipeline comprising N processing stages, each of said N processing stages capable of performing at least one of a plurality of execution steps associated with instructions being executed by said clusters, a method of operating said data processor comprising the steps of: monitoring each said instruction execution pipeline and said instruction cache to identify power-down conditions associated therewith; and in response to an identified power-down condition, at least one of (i) bypassing performance of at least a portion of subsequent ones of said N processing stages associated with an executing instruction, (ii) powering down said instruction cache, and (iii) powering down said data processor.
 9. The method of operating said data processor as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of detecting, while monitoring each said instruction execution pipeline and said instruction cache, a non-operation associated with an instruction executing in an instruction execution pipeline of one of said clusters.
 10. The method of operating said data processor as set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of bypassing, in response to detecting said non-operation, performance of said at least said portion of said subsequent ones of said N processing stages, to go thereby reduce power consumption in said subsequent ones of said N processing stages as said executing instruction passes through said instruction execution pipeline.
 11. The method of operating said data processor as set forth in claim 9 wherein said detecting step further comprises detecting that said non-operation is one of a real non-operation and an inserted non-operation during a decode stage of said N processing stages.
 12. The method of operating said data processor as set forth in claim 8 wherein said data processor further comprises an instruction fetch buffer and said method further comprises the step of powering down said instruction cache in response to identifying a tight-loop condition in said instruction fetch buffer.
 13. The method of operating said data processor as set forth in claim 8 wherein said data processor further comprises an instruction fetch buffer and said method further comprises the step powering down said data processor in response to identifying an idle-loop condition.
 14. A processing system comprising: a data processor having a clustered architecture; a memory associated with said data processor; a plurality of peripheral circuits associated with said data processor for performing selected functions in association with said data processor, wherein said data processor comprises: an instruction cache; a plurality of clusters, each of said clusters comprising an instruction execution pipeline of N processing stages, each of said N processing stages capable of performing at least one of a plurality of execution steps associated with instructions being executed by said clusters; and a power-down controller that monitors each said instruction execution pipeline and said instruction cache to identify power-down conditions associated therewith, and that, in response to an identified power-down condition, at least one of: (i) bypasses performance of at least a portion of subsequent ones of said N processing stages associated with an executing instruction; (ii) powers down said instruction cache; and (iii)powers down said data processor.
 15. The processing system as set forth in claim 14 further comprising an instruction fetch buffer, and wherein an identified power-down condition indicates detection of at least one of (i) a non-operation in one of said clusters, (ii) a tight-loop condition in said instruction fetch buffer, and (iii) an idle-loop condition.
 16. The processing system as set forth in claim 14 wherein said power-down controller, while monitoring each said instruction execution pipeline and said instruction cache, detects a non-operation associated with an instruction executing in an instruction execution pipeline of one of said clusters.
 17. The processing system as set forth in claim 16 wherein said power-down controller, in response to detecting said non-operation, bypasses performance of said at least said portion of said subsequent ones of said N processing stages, to thereby reduce power consumption in said subsequent ones of said N processing stages as said executing instruction passes through said instruction execution pipeline.
 18. The processing system as set forth in claim 14 further comprising an instruction-fetch buffer.
 19. The processing system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said power-down controller powers down said instruction cache in response to identifying a tight-loop condition in said instruction fetch buffer.
 20. The processing system as set forth in claim 18 wherein said power-down controller powers down said data processor in response to identifying an idle-loop condition. 